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‘Leadership, bane of Africa’s growth, development’

By Abiodun Fagbemi Ilorin
26 July 2018   |   3:00 am
The British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Ambassador Paul Arkwright has described African countries as great in potentials but lacking in good leadership system.  Arkwright, represented by Brigadier Charles Calder of the British Armed Forces said recently at the valedictory programme for the 2018 final year students of Thomas Adewumi International College, Oko (TAICO) in Kwara…
Paul Arkwright

British High Commissioner, Paul Arkwright

The British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Ambassador Paul Arkwright has described African countries as great in potentials but lacking in good leadership system. 

Arkwright, represented by Brigadier Charles Calder of the British Armed Forces said recently at the valedictory programme for the 2018 final year students of Thomas Adewumi International College, Oko (TAICO) in Kwara state that until leaders of African countries shun egotism, the socio political and economic growth within the continent may be hindered. 

Besides, the envoy said true leadership should be viewed from the perception of rendering services to the people rather than turning the citizens into victims of servitude.  

He said, “i would like to move onto a subject very close to my heart, and one that I have studied endlessly during my military career and that is leadership.

And I have to say that when I think about the causes of the problems facing Africa I come to the conclusion that at heart the common denominator is a lack of effective leadership. 

“But I am not talking about a brand of leadership epitomised by the cult of the ‘big man’, or a style of leadership which requires masses of protocol and huge security details and outriders.

No, I am talking about a leadership style that is authentic and what has come to be known as the ‘servant leader’ model. “

Arkwright canvassed greater collaboration among the world leaders to break the growing rate of poverty across the globe jus as he cautioned the socio -political and economic leaders on the inherent dangers of condoning social vices in their areas of jurisdiction. 

He congratulated the students on the occasion of their graduation urging them to take over the challenges of producing great leaders for Nigeria and make the much needed positive changes in their generation. 

Arkwright added, “it is not the critic who counts; nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. 

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

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